Haenam-gun, Try Living First and Decide: 'Returnee Farmers' House' Gains Popularity

All 7 Buildings Fully Occupied, Playing a Major Role in Stable Return-to-Farming Settlement

Exterior view of Haenam-gun Return-to-Farming House (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] The "House for Returning Farmers," a temporary residence for prospective returnees to farming in Haenam County, has completed full occupancy and is operating successfully.

According to Haenam County on the 22nd, to ensure the stable settlement of prospective returnees, a total of seven Houses for Returning Farmers have been operated since starting with two locations in 2016.

In particular, among the 19 households that have used the House for Returning Farmers since 2016, nine households have settled in Haenam County, showing significant effectiveness in attracting returnees to farming.

The House for Returning Farmers, located within the Haenam County Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement Hope Center, provides convenience by allowing prospective returnees to live for six months, experience rural life in advance, and settle stably in farming.

Urban residents who face difficulties securing initial housing before returning to farming or rural living can stay for a certain period, gaining opportunities to directly experience rural life by obtaining information on farmland, housing, crops, and receiving counseling on returning to farming.

Especially since the House for Returning Farmers is located on the premises of the Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement Hope Center, it is easy to access agricultural information necessary for settlement, and professional counselors are available for consultation at any time.

The House for Returning Farmers consists of six units of 34㎡ and one unit of 50㎡, and residents pay a prescribed usage fee to live there.

Last year, a pilot farming experience program was operated. (Photo by Haenam-gun)

The eligible residents are prospective returnees preparing to farm in Haenam County or returnees within six months, with priority determined by evaluating family size, age, and hours of completed return-to-farming education.

Despite its geographical distance from the metropolitan area, Haenam ranks third in Jeollanam-do for the influx of returnees to farming, making it a region of great interest to returnees.

Since opening the Return-to-Farming and Rural Settlement Hope Center in 2016, a systematic support system has been established, providing information related to returning to farming and rural living, customized comprehensive counseling for returnees, farming experience programs, and support projects for returnees.

Additionally, in March, Haenam was selected for the "Return-to-Farming and Fishing Village Stay-Type Support Center Construction Project," which creates stay-type educational facilities for those hoping to return to farming and rural living, and the project is currently underway.

Haenam County aims to attract 10,000 people, including youth, through population inflow via returning to farming and rural living, and has established revitalization measures and various supports for attracting and settling urban residents.

Myung Hyun-kwan, the mayor of Haenam County, stated, "In the aging reality of farming and fishing villages, returning to farming and rural living plays a significant role in regional revitalization through population inflow," adding, "We plan to support urban residents to settle stably in rural areas through establishing systems to resolve information shortages for new returnees and implementing innovative support policies for returning to farming and rural living."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.